Cool Mama Blog

Post Marriage Blues or Bliss?

2012-02-27T13:12:00.001-06:00

Do you remember when you were dating your spouse? you had so much fun doing all the exciting and interesting things. You did what he liked and he occasionally did what you liked. Hmmmm . .. .life was a joy wasn’t it?

Now think. Since you have been married, when was the last time you had so much fun? Have you changed? has he changed? or, is it that for the first time in your relationship you are true to yourself?

When we are dating, we work extra hard to please our partner. Even if this means doing things that we are not so keen about. Once married, that pressure of pleasing our spouse is finally lifted and we can be ourselves.

But, did you know that “shared leisure activities are essential for growing together as a couple and staying in love.” (William Harley, expert marriage therapist). If you give up doing fun things together, you will end up like ships passing in the night. You do not want that now, do you? absolutely NOT.

Finally, the kids are growing up. Soon you and your partner will be by yourselves, just like you were when you were dating. It is important then to explore things that you like doing together.

According to a great article I read in Experience Life Magazine, March 2012, the expert marriage therapist Willard F. Harley lists a set of barriers to overcome and strategies for success for couples who want to find recreational companionship.

BARRIERS TO OVERCOME

Differing energy levels – You could be the energizer bunny and your partner, a slow tortoise. What do you do then.

Separate tracks – You finally realize that the things you did when you were dating were not enjoyable to you but to your partner. Once in the marriage, you feel safe to explore your own “track”

Infidelity Dangers – sharing fun activities creates strong bonds and attraction between people. Building relationships with others in the leisure sphere can threaten your marriage.

The “If you loved me” trap – Using this phrase will lead to anger and resentment from your partner.

STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS

Communicate – Be honest about your likes and dislikes. Let your partner know the benefits in recreational companionship. Generate positive feelings toward each other.

Build together time – Temporarily give up all the “unshared” leisure activities until you find some common ones with your partner. Once you have established a “together” time, you can resume your “me” time.

Find the intersection – Try out lots of new activities and you are bound to find something both of you enjoy.

Patience – especially if you have differing amounts of energy, be patient with one another. It will take some time to find out common interests.

So, let us vow to ourselves to bring back the “flame” that we had in our relationship during the dating stage and chase the marriage blues away!

Technorati Tags: tips for a successful marriage,how to chase marriage blues away,how to do things as a couple,finding common things to do in a marriage,successful marriage

A Celebration Of Differences (and Similarities)

2012-02-23T10:49:00.001-06:00

The other day, as I was waiting in my car to get my little ones from school I realized something interesting.

The area that we live in, which has predominantly been American, has all of a sudden changed.

As I glanced around the other cars, I was surprised to see parents from so many different ethnicities doing exactly what I was – waiting for their kids.

This made me wonder if the curriculum in our kids school has changed in any way to teach our kids about different cultures.

Kids are like a blank slate. It is really up to us as parents to make sure that they learn about the different cultures around them which would lead them to grow into more culturally aware individuals.

United states Of America is one of the most diverse places on earth. And as we move on to the 21 century, it will be imperative that our kids are able to communicate and work with people from different racial and ethnic groups. This skill will be as if not more important than computer skills in the years ahead.

Children thrive to learn. They learn by understanding, identifying and appreciating the similarities and differences of those around them. This in turn will help them develop in a healthy way both emotionally as well as socially

One of the most important ways children are introduced to concepts of diversity and cultures is through books and media. It is amazing how many different T.V shows do just that. Dora and Diego portray the Mexican culture. Kai – Lan shows the little ones the Chinese Culture. But the one culture that tends to be missing, is the east Indian culture. Just in my son’s grade, we have 3 other East Indian kids. Since there is a void of presence of the East Indian culture in the Media, I decided to write the book “Lulu Goes To Bollywood’ in which a cute little dog introduces kids to the Indian culture in a simple and humorous way.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=lulu+goes+to+bollywood&x=0&y=0

By learning about the cultures of kids around them, our kids will grow up to be respectful and kind adults. We are lucky enough to live in such a diverse society. Hopefully our kids will learn to be proud of their own cultures and embrace good values from the cultures around them.

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Get Your Paws Off MY Diet Coke!

2012-02-21T12:54:00.001-06:00

The other morning, as I lay in bed, slowly waking up the lovely and soothing sounds over NPR (National Public Radio), I was rudely woken up by a very disturbing news story.

The story indicated that recent research in the Journal of General Internal Medicine showed that people who drank diet pop everyday may have a heightened risk of heart attacks and stroke. What! I almost fell off my bed. I LOVE diet coke. I drink 2-3 cans every single day. Was I destined to die due to a stroke or a heart attack because of my love for diet soda? Well, it just so happens that this just might not be the case.

After reading the full article on the computer on this news story (what would I do without Google??) , this is what I discovered.

It is true that research indeed indicated that older adults who drank diet pop every day had a 44% increase risk in developing heart disease or suffer from a stroke.

However, the research also indicated that diet pop was not alone to be blamed. Research at the University Of Miami school Of Medicine showed that people who consume sugar free drinks tend to have other “unhealthy” lifestyle habits.

Apparently the regular diet pop drinkers tend to be heavier and more often have heart risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and unhealthy cholesterol levels.

So, knowing this, am I willing to give up my favorite drink? absolutely NOT. But am I willing to cut down a bit? damn right I will. I will also start working out more so that I am not going to end up in the “obese” category.

Life is too short. Sometimes the littlest things give us pleasure- like an ice cold can of diet coke!

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Love With Thy Brain NOT Thy Heart!

2012-02-14T11:49:00.001-06:00

Today, lovers all over the world will be celebrating the most romantic day of all time - Valentine’s day.

Sweet hearts will exchange gifts and candies all adorned with hearts. In fact the universal symbol for love is . . . THE HEART! But, do we really love someone with all our heart or do we do we love someone with all our BRAIN???? that is the question that has been studied extensively by Dr. Helen Fisher.

According to Dr. Fisher, love can be divided into 3 major systems of the brain

Sex
Romance
Attachment

Each of these three areas work during different times in the relationship and involves a different set of chemicals and neurotransmitters.

The Sex Drive – Or, as I call the “ Whoo whoo – Check out that hunkalicious thing” stage

Or should we call it what it is – LUST
This stems predominantly from the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus also controls our basic desires such as hunger and thirst.
The hypothalamus is related closely to the autonomic nervous system (ANS) which controls our heart and respiration rate.
There are receptors for testosterone on the hypothalamus which activates our ANS. The result . . . sex drive! (now we know why this area of the brain is the largest in men! damn testosterone!!!)

The Romance System – or, as I call the .“Flowers!!!! for me???” – stage

Aaaah the best part of the brain – the ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens – the same areas that are most active when you are on a high. Whether it is a high on drugs or in most of our cases, high on LOVE!

These regions of the brain have the following neurotransmitters
Dopamine – drives us toward a perceived reward
Cortisol and phenylephrine – found in chocolate (now, that explains a lot!)
Serotonin – which is low earlier in a relationship. serotonin is also low in depression and obsessive compulsive disorder which explains why we are “addicted” to love earlier on in the relationship and why we have such a relentless optimism towards it. Basically, we crave it !

The Affection System- or, as I call it the “Let’s get married so we can forget about the flowers and lust !!!!” stage

Latter on in the relationship when the dopaminergic thrill is gone, we seek to “stick” to each other.

In animals the chemicals oxytocin and vasopressin are responsible in this phase of the relationship. Ironically, these “calming” neurotransmitters are also released by the lustful hypothalamus!

It almost seems that these different areas of the brain are at work at different times of the relationship. Which is a bummer. Because married or not, a bouquet of long stem red roses and a vine color patent leather bag form Louis Vuitton would be much appreciated and just might activate the “first” stage for us – at least for one night!!!

Happy Valentines Day!!!

Technorati Tags: Relationship stages and the brain,brain and love,how we love,how relationships are formed,three stages of relationships

5 Healthiest Ways To Cook

2012-02-06T11:17:00.001-06:00

If you read my last post (the mighty microwave) you might be a tad bit concerned about using the microwave to cook and heat your food. The biggest fear is working so hard to feed your family a healthy meal only to find out that all the good nutrients have been diminished due to this method of cooking.

So, I decided to do some research and find other methods of cooking that would preserve most of the nutrients in your food. Joy Feldman, NC, an integrative holistic health nutritional consultant has listed the following methods as the healthiest ways to cook.

1. Steaming –

Preserves flavor, aroma, vitamins and antioxidants
Decreases the volume of the vegetables so you can eat more!
USDA researchers have indicated that lightly steaming greens (broccoli, kale) increases their ability to bind more bile acids than if eaten raw. Lower bile acid in the blood makes the cholesterol make more bile thus reducing the amount of cholesterol in the blood stream.

2. Stir Frying -

Intense heat minimizes nutrient loss.
Maintains vegetable texture and color

3. Sautéing -

Uses a moderate amount of fat in a pan over direct heat
Since cooking time is slightly longer than stir frying there is a slightly higher chance for loss of nutrients

4.Slow Cooker –

Even though cooking for a longer period of time at a lower heat will lead to a loss of nutrients, the benefit can be salvaged if the sauce is eaten.

5. Pressure Cooking -

Exposure to intense heat will lead to loss of nutrients but once again can be salvaged if the sauce is consumed.

The author frowns upon the following cooking methods -

Baking
Boiling
Grilling
Roasting
Toasting
Deep frying

So, there you go. A whole list of healthy and not so healthy ways to cook. In my opinion, you live but only once. So, once in a while go ahead and have your baked cake, your flame grilled steak and your deep fried French fries. It will not kill you and will prevent you from craving these foods and as a result over eat other stuff.

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The Mighty Microwave

2012-02-02T13:46:00.001-06:00

It is 6:00 PM. The kids are yelling on top of their whinny voices just how hungry they are. you have just walked in after a long and tiring day at work. You run to the refrigerator and get yesterday’s leftovers. You literary throw the food on to the plate and stick it in the microwave. You turn the power button “on”. But, nothing happens. PANIC !!!!! You run around like a chicken with her head cut off, pressing all the buttons that you can think of. The whining gets louder. You panic more when you realize . . . NO MORE MIGHTY MICROWAVE !

This is when you realize just how much we depend on this little black box to get us through a hectic day and get meals heated up in a jiffy.

But, have you ever taken a moment to reflect on why we call microwaving our food “nuking”? do you really know what is going on inside the oven once the door is shut?

Contrary to the common belief that microwave heats food by releasing radioactive energy, microwaves use a magnetron that converts electric power into waves of oscillating electromagnetic energy. Juming Tang, PhD, professor of food engineering at Washington State University in Pullman states that the microwaves permeate food. This causes agitation of water molecules and charged salt ions. This produces friction and a quick rise in temperature thus quickly heating the food.

Some critics of the mighty microwave (bet you a $100 that they are not parents!), state that the intermolecular friction caused by the appliance reduces the bioavailability of essential vitamins ad minerals such as the B and C vitamins. In the defense of these critics, certain studies have indeed shown that the microwave does cause some foods to loose their benefits. Such as, Olive oil tends to loose its antioxidant capacities and garlic can destroy it’s most powerful medicinal compound allicin by microwaving.

Now that you Know the “potential” risks of the mighty microwave, are you willing to get rid of it? Are you willing to listen to the constant whining of the kids after a long day of working hard? I didn't think so.

So, when I came across this great article on how to safely microwave your foods (Experience Life Magazine, 2/2012), I had to share it with my dear readers.

1. Use only ceramic or glass containers – Plastics could leak a range of chemicals into your cuisine including carcinogens and hormone imitators such as BPA

2. Minimize on the amount of water used and the time to heat – Many nutrients are lost from foods due to using too much water or blasting on a high temperature for a longer period of time.

3. Put a lid on it – This is to retain the moisture in the food. The moist heat will help destroy the harmful bacteria in the food and ensure even cooking. Also, you will not have to clean the crud of the microwave walls at the end of the day.

4. Out with the old – Make sure that there is a good seal between the door and the frame. Cleaning the crud off the seal will ensure just that.

So, now that you are aware of the safe ways to microwave your food, go ahead use the mighty microwave happily and without any guilt!

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The Final Installment in the Goal Setting Series . . . Winning!

2012-01-31T13:24:00.001-06:00

Do you remember the last time that you accomplished a goal and how happy you were? isn’t it an amazing feeling to say to yourself, “Yes! I did it!”

Well, after working hard to accomplish all the steps stated thus far, you have finally reached the right to say the treasured words . . . I DID IT!

Most people when they accomplish a goal, forget to celebrate. It is really important to give yourself that positive feedback and take a moment to reflect upon your goal. Your positive feedback to yourself will give you the motivation to keep going and work toward your other goals.

So, at the end of the day ask yourself the following questions (Kate Larsen, Experience Magazine 2/2012)

Did I accomplish my goal today? If so, how did I do it? If not, what smaller successes did I make towards my goal?

If, I failed to achieve my goal, what were my obstacles and can I change them so that they do not interfere my goals tomorrow?

If you failed to accomplish your goal, don’t fret! Just learn from your mistakes, make the changes and move on.

One of the best ways to celebrate your win, is to keep a success journal in which you jot down all your successes no matter how big or small. (or, in my case, buy yet another Coach bag!!)

So, this is the end of your 4 part series on goal setting. I hope that you strive to reach all your goals that you have set for yourself this year. Believe that you will win, an you sure will. Have confidence in yourself and tackle on thing at a time!

Happy Goal setting and achieving!

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Lights. Camera… ACTION

2012-01-27T11:19:00.001-06:00

Finally, we are at the “action’ part of our game plan. Did you take a moment to complete the first two parts of the goal achievement plan? well, I hope so.

Have you ever had awesome intentions of say loosing weight or becoming more active and you have failed miserably to act upon them? Yep, we have all been there (me more so than others!)

In this part of the game plan, you will learn for yourself the difference between good intentions and great execution.

The key to your success in this stage is to prioritize your commitment to your self and to the goal that you have set. So, for instance if you are pressured by your hubby to watch TV at the time that you usually work out (assuming that that is your goal), then you have to be strong, stand up for your goal and tell your hubby that he will really not melt if he were to watch TV by himself!

When you are placed in a compromising situation where you have to place your goal first, ask yourself the following questions (Kate Larsen, Experience Life Magazine, Feb.2012)

In an hour, what will I be more pleased that I did? (TV sounds great, but, that skinny waist will feel much better!)
What choice will lead to the greatest amount of regret
What would the person that I aspire to be, choose right now

So, this is the stage where the real magic happens.

Be true to yourself and to the goals that you have set and you will surely accomplish them.

The final stage in the goal setting saga . . . WINNING!

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Goal Setting–Guaranteed to Work–part 2

2012-01-24T11:58:00.001-06:00

So, since the last time that we spoke (well, kindda) I hope you all had a chance to jot down the answers to all the questions.

Now, the second part on how to achieve your new years’ resolutions. How to Choose your goal.

In the ‘choose” stage, you fully commit to your goal.

This is the stage when you warm up for what is to come. The most critical part in this stage is building a sense of confidence.You have to believe that you can with effort , make the change that you hope to make.

This is a make or break moment for most people. If you do not believe in yourself and your ability to achieve your goal, then you simply will not try hard enough to do so.

The best way to build self confidence is to gain knowledge and information on the change that you are about to make. So, for instance, if my goal is to increase my web traffic for this blog, then I will have to search on ways to do just that. By gaining the knowledge you will in turn demystify the unknown on achieving your goal. Also, another way to building confidence in yourself is to say to yourself “I choose to change” several times a day.

According to Kate Larsen, the following questions should be answered in this stage :

What do I currently do that will help my achieve my goal
what do I currently do that will deter me in achieving my goal
what situations trigger me to engage in self-sabotaging behaviors
How well do the choices that I currently make serve me
What information do I need and what information do I already have to make this change

The answers to the above will lead you to the next 2 steps in this stage – creating an action plan and setting appropriate benchmarks for your achievements.

An action plan will turn your intention into something concrete.

Benchmarks will allow you to see your progress.

Once again according to Kate Larsen, the following questions will help you will the action plan and the benchmarks.

who/what are my resources
who is my support
When will I start the process
what are my steps
What will I have to give up to make this change
How will I measure my progress
How will I reward myself when I achieve the benchmarks for my goal

The next stage in goal setting and achieving is – Action!

Please take a moment from your busy day and jot down the answers to the above questions so you can proceed to the ‘action” part of goal setting.

I hope that you are finding these series on goal setting as useful as I am.

Technorati Tags: steps in goal setting,Kate Larsen steps on goal setting,how to set good goals,how to achieve your goals,new years resolutions

Yeeee! The New Year is Here .But… are you ready????

2012-01-20T13:14:00.001-06:00

OK. The first 1/2 of January is over and by now we are sure to be slacking off all the great resolutions that we made only 20 days ago. Yaah, I know as well as you do who you are! Enough excuses about lack of time and feeling down and taking care of the kids. Wake up and smell the coffee (hopefully one from Starbucks. . .. trust me , you will need it!). You have 20 days less to complete all the goals that you set for yourself at the beginning of the year.

To make your task easier (since I am so totally awesome!) I will share a great article that I recently read on goal setting.The article was written by Kate Larsen in the Experience Life magazine, Feb. 2012.

To make it manageable and not overwhelming, I have decided to discuss each of the 4 steps of goal setting on separate days. Also, where possible, I will present the ideas in a point form so that it is easier to skim through the article at a future date if you so desire (please desire!!)

OK. So, as mentioned, there are 4 basic steps on how to achieve the resolutions that you have set for yourself.

The first step is to Think

In this stage, you build a strong foundation for your goal – reflect on the changes you want to make and how you to propose to do that.
Have your personal interest at hand while setting your goal – as in, you want to save $$ because YOU want to not because your spouse wants you to.
Choose a goal that “lights” you up (please, I did not mean “on fire”). The goal that you pick for yourself should be energizing and challenging and at the same time not impossible to attain.
The best goals are those that meet your intrinsic need for autonomy, competence and connectedness. These goals will make you so much happier when you achieve them.
Create positive goals such as I want to achieve 100 views of my blog a day (hint hint ! start spreading the word along people!!!) not . . .I will jump off a cliff if I do not increase my web traffic! Fear is a poor motivator. positive goals are more compelling.

According to the author, before you set your goals for 2012, ask yourself the following questions (experience Life, Feb. 2012 – Kate Larsen)

What is my goal
What do I want to change about what I am doing to achieve my goal
How will my life be better when I achieve this goal
What makes this the right time to change
How do I feel about making these changes – your fears and hopes
How will I know when I have accomplished my goal
What will my life be like when I achieve my goal

Think about these questions and take time to write down the answers. Some people also benefit from making a vision board.

The next step in goal setting and achieving is Choosing your goal. – until the next time, please take time to write down your answers and help me achieve my goal by spreading the word around for coolmama blog!

thanks and ciao!

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Spice Mixtures Commonly Used In Indian Cooking

2012-01-18T12:56:00.001-06:00

So, this morning, I received a great comment from a true and tested follower of Cool Mama blog who pointed out to me that I had mentioned a mixture of spice in the last post and had not explained it’s content which would be confusing to those that are unfamiliar with it. Thanks a ton Shy for pointing that out.

so, for today’s post, I decided to list the composition of two commonly used spice mixtures in Indian Cuisine. Both can be readily purchased from an Indian Grocery store. But . . . as my mom always says, it does not measure up to the home made stuff. (And that is why, even to this day, she sends me my spices from Toronto!)

The first spice mixture is Dhana Jeeru (that is the one that I failed to explain in the post on ginger)

Dhana = coriander seeds

Jeeru = Cumin seeds

Dhana Jeeru is made by blending together equal amounts of the two in a coffee grinder dedicated to spices alone (otherwise your morning cup of Joe will taste very . . . hmmmmm…. “indianish”). To bring our more flavor of any spices, it is best to toast them in a frying pan for a few min. until they are fragrant, cool them and then blend them.

This and all spices are stored well in a air tight container for up to a month in the pantry and thereafter in the refrigerator. But, try to use it up within 6 months otherwise all the flavor will be lost and it won’t taste the same.

The second spice mixture is Garam Masala -

Garam = hot

masala = spices

Garam masala = mixture of hot (whoo hoo !!!) spices

The following will make about 2 oz. (adapted from Healthy Indian Cooking – 2007)

10 dried red chilies

3 X 2.5 cm cinnamon sticks

2 curry leaves

2 Tbs. coriander seeds

2 Tbs. cumin seeds

1 tsp. peppercorns

1 tsp. cloves

1 tsp. fenugreek seeds

1 tsp. black mustard seeds

1/4 chili powder

Procedure

Dry roast the chilies, cinnamon and curry leaves in a frying pan for 2 min.

Add the rest of the spices and continue to dry fry until fragrant (the spices will turn darker as they release their oils)

Cool the mixture and blend it in the coffee/spice grinder.

store in an air tight container.

Both these spice mixtures are awesome to have handy if you cook Indian cuisine often.

Enjoy !!

Technorati Tags: recipes garam masala,recipe dhana jeeru,mixture of Indian spices,spices used in Indian Cuisine

Spicy 5 - Ginger

2012-01-17T15:11:00.001-06:00

Main health benefit – quiets queasiness

One of the main ingredients in Indian and Thai cooking, ginger is a delicious and pungent spice.

The main health benefit of this great spice is to relieve nausea. In a study conducted at University of Michigan and at the national Yang'-Ming university, it was concluded that 1000 mg of ginger relieved motion sickness at a higher prevalence than the placebo.

Ginger limits the release of vasopressin, a key hormone found in development of nausea and motion sickness.

Ginger is also helpful in preventing and treating arthritis, asthma, cancer, cholesterol, heartburn, heart attack, morning sickness, stroke and elevated triglycerides.

One of my favorite recipes using ginger is

Ground Beef, pea and potato curry.

Ingredients

3 Tbs. vegetable oil

1 small onion diced finely

2 sticks of cinnamon

5 peppercorns

4 whole cloves

3 medium sized potatoes peeled and cubed in 2 inch cubes

2 roma tomatoes – diced

2 Tbs. cilantro leaved chopped

2 tsp. Dhana Jeeru

1/2 tsp. red chilies

1/2 tsp. mustard powder (hurder)

2 tsp. garlic (minced)

2 tsp. ginger (minced)

2 tsp. salt

1 pond 93% fat free ground beef

1 cup frozen peas

1/2 tsp. garam masala

2 tsp. fresh lemon juice.

stir well.

Procedure

Heat oil in a pot over medium heat

add the cinnamon, peppercorns and cloves and stir until fragrant (approximately 30 seconds)

add onions and cook stirring frequently until the onion is translucent

add the cubed potatoes. cook until the potatoes are partially done (approximately 5-6 min.) stir frequently to avoid sticking

In the meantime, place the tomatoes and all the ingredients up to salt in a bow and set aside.

Once the potatoes are partially done, add the tomato mixture.Cook until the spices are fragrant about 5 min.

Add the ground beef and break it down with a wooden spoon. Mix well and cook 3 min.

Add 11/2 cups of water and bring the curry to a simmer. simmer on low heat for 15 – 20 min . Make sure that toe potatoes are cooked through. Add the peas. Cook for another 5 min. until the peas are heated through. Taste for salt and spiciness. make necessary adjustments.

take of the heat. Add the 1/2 tsp. garam masala and 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice.

stir well.

Serve over a bed of warm, fragrant Basmati rice or with warm naan.

Enjoy!

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Spicy baby!–Part 4

2012-01-12T10:47:00.001-06:00

If you are a woman, you are going to love and appreciate this spice. It’s main benefit is . . . calming Menstrual Cramps!

When I was younger, I was so debilitated with menstrual pain that I had to miss school, work and ended up throwing up and drenched in sweat all day! So, when I read that Fennel actually helps with cramps, I was ecstatic (and upset that I did not know about this early on!!)

Fennel is a vegetable, a herb and a spice. It’s licorice – like flavor is due to it’s volatile oil anethole.

In a study reported in the Journal Of Obstetrics and Gynecology it was concluded that fennel oil was superior in healing cramps than over the counter NSAIDS.

Another study showed that fennel was helpful in calming colic in babies. If you are of an Indian Origin, you will remember having Gripe water to ease your indigestion as a kid. When my son was born, the first thing that my mom brought for me from Toronto is 5 bottles of gripe water! (thankfully, it was the nonalcoholic kind!). Also, if you have ever visited an Indian restaurant, you will recall a bowl of fennel seeds by the checkout that you help yourself to in order to help you digest the massive meal that you just consumed.

Besides indigestion and menstrual cramps, fennel is also shown to help with Alzheimer's cancer, colitis, IBD, dementia, glaucoma, heart disease, high blood pressure, hirsuitsm (unwanted hair growth in women) and stroke.

Fennel is used in Indian, Mediterranean and Italian cooking.

One of my favorite recipes using fennel is

Marinara sauce

Ingredients

2 small onions diced

2 Tbs. olive oil

2 28. oz. cans of dice tomatoes drained and juice saved

2 tsp. crushed garlic

2 tsp. crushed oregano

2 tsp. basil (dried)

2 tsp. crushed fennel seeds

2 tsp. salt

2. tsp. black pepper

1 cup. saved tomato juice

1 cup chicken broth

1/4 cup granulated sugar

Procedure

In a pan, heat the oil and sauté the onion until golden and translucent (making sure that they do not burn)

Add the garlic, oregano, fennel, basil, salt and pepper and cook until the spices are fragrant

Add 1 1/2 cans of the crushed tomatoes (drained of course!) and cook until almost all the water is evaporated.

Add the tomato juice and the broth to the consistency that you want your sauce.

Cook for 5-7 min.

Once the sauce is cooled, blend it with the remaining 1/2 can of the diced tomatoes. Use a hand blender or a regular blender until the sauce it smooth

Place the sauce back in the saucepan. Add the sugar to cut down on the acidity from the tomatoes. stir well.cook for 5 min.

serve over a bed of delicious warm pasta!

The last spice to be discussed . . . Ginger!

Technorati Tags: Fennel,health benefits of fennel seeds,why eat fennel seeds,natural remedy for menstrual pain,recipe marinara sauce,great and healthy spaghetti sauce

Spice it up– Part 3–Coriander

2012-01-09T12:13:00.001-06:00

So, now that we have discussed the benefits of Turmeric and Cinnamon, I hope that you have gotten a chance to use them both in your cooking. I was so impressed by the number of questions I received on both these spice that I have decided to continue with the series and discuss the next spice – coriander.

Coriander and Cilantro are often used interchangeably. But this is incorrect. Cilantro is a herb which is the scented leaves of the coriander plant whereas coriander comes from the plant’s sweet, nutty seeds.

The main health benefit of coriander is in easing digestive discomfort. It may also help prevent and treat diarrhea, colic, bloating, cholesterol, colon cancer, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, flatulence, indigestion, IBS, insomnia, psoriasis, rosacea, vaginal yeast infection, ulcer, stomach ache and lead poisoning.

The curative properties of the spice comes from it’s volatile oils – linalool and geranyl acetate . In a recent study of patients suffering from IBS( irritable bowel syndrome) it was concluded that the group that was taking a coriander preparation had a 3X more improvement over the course of 3 weeks than those in the placebo group.

The reason behind this miraculous spice is that it works as an antispasmodic drug relaxing the contracted muscles that causes IBS. And this could also be the reason why it helps decrease high blood pressure.

Most Indian and Moroccan dishes use coriander as a spice in their cooking. One of my favorite recipes using coriander is

Tandoori Masala Chicken Breasts

Ingredients

6 chicken breasts

2 Tbs. low fat yoghurt

1 Tbs. Tomato Puree

2 tsp. ground coriander

1 tsp. ginger pulp

1 tsp. garlic pulp

1 tsp. green chili ground

1 tsp. salt

1 Tbs oil and more for basting

3 Tbs. lemon juice

Procedure

Rinse, and pat dry chicken breasts

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl.

rub spice mixture over the chicken breasts ,

Let marinade sit for 3 ours up to overnight in the refrigerator

Preheat oven to 475 degrees. Place the chicken in an oven proof dish and bake for 15 min. Baste the chicken breasts with a tsp. of oil midway through baking. Turn the temp. of the oven to 350 degrees and continue to bake for another 10 – 15 min. or until the instant read thermometer reads 165 degrees at the thickest part of the chicken.

Let the meat rest for 10 min. before serving. This chicken is totally awesome with some hot buttery naan!

I hope you get a chance to try to try out this recipe.

Next spice to spice you up is . . . Fennel

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Spice Up Your Life–Part 2

2012-01-05T11:21:00.001-06:00

Today’s spice of the day is . . . Turmeric!

Now ,if you have been following my blog for a while (I hope that you are) then you will remember that last year I wrote a whole blog about this incredible spice. If not, you are welcome to check it out at http://www.coolmamablog.com/2010/07/another-reason-to-eat-indian-food.html (by the way, if I were you, I would totally check this article out as it contains a ton of awesome info!).

The main health benefit of turmeric is in reducing inflammation. It may also prevent and help treat acne, allergies, Alzheimer's’, arthritis, asthma, cancer, cholesterol problems, colitis, cystic fibrosis, depression, dermatitis, type 2 diabetes, eczema, eye infection,flatulence, gallbladder disease, gout, gum disease, heart disease,high blood pressure, itching, liver disease, macular degeneration, obesity, pain, Parkinson's disease, pollution side effects,psoriasis, rash, scleroderma, stroke, wounds (wow! now that is a wonder spice)

Turmeric owes its preventative and curative characteristics to it’s active ingredient Curcumin.Curcumin is so diverse and rich in anti- inflammatory and anti oxidant actions that thousands of studies have indicated it’s benefits in practically every organ in the body. In Studies done by Dr. Aggarval, it was proven that Curcumin was more effective in reducing inflammation than the over the counter aspirin and ibuprofen and as effective as the more powerful prescription drug, Celebrex. Also, it proved to thwart breast cancer cells as effectively as the toxic drug Tamoxifen!. According to Dr. Frawley, the director of American Institute For Vedic Studies in Santa Fe, if there was only one single spice he had to depend on for all possible health and dietary needs, he would take Turmeric.

So, the long story short . .. try to consume as much turmeric as possible. Most Indian recipes use turmeric as a spice. One of my favorite recipes that is well known to everybody is Samosa the recipe for which can be found at http://www.coolmamablog.com/search?q=samosa

Also, you can use a bit of turmeric while stir-frying vegetables, or in a pot of rice, in a bowl of soup, add it to fried onions and you can also put it in warm milk with a bit of honey for a delicious drink (the kids will get a kick out of the yellow milk)

So, I hope that this was informative and that you add a bit of spice to your life.

Next spice to be discussed . . .Coriander!

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Spice Up Your Life!

2012-01-03T15:16:00.001-06:00

First and foremost . . .Happy New Year to all of my awesome readers. Hope you all have a healthy, happy and love filled year ahead of you.

Now, talking about healthy . . . .I read an awesome article over the holidays that indicated the benefits of adding spice to your life. OK, get your mind out of the gutter. Not that kind of “spice”! but the real kind of spice that you get with spices.

The author, Dr. Bharat Aggarwal is a biochemist of Indian descent who after having grown up with spices all his life, has made it his life time ambition to discover the benefits of spices and sharing it with the world using his research.

So, for this week, I will share each of the spices that he has indicated to be beneficial followed by one of my favorite recipes using that spice. (for the full article on this subject, check out the Experience Life Magazine, Feb. 2012)

I hope that you all find the research as fascinating as I did and try out some of these recipes to add “spice” to your life.

Worldwide research has indicated that spices contain compounds that fight oxidation and inflammation the two underlying processes of all chronic illnesses.

The spice to be discussed today is . . . CINNAMON

The main health benefit of Cinnamon is to balance blood sugar levels and other cardiovascular diseases. In a recent U.S study published in the journal of American Board Of Family Medicine, it was concluded that the subjects taking 1 gram of cinnamon a day had a 0.83 % decrease in AIC (a measurement of blood sugar level) compared to only 0.37% in those taking a placebo.

Dr. Richard Anderson who has conducted several studies on Cinnamon and diabetes theorizes that the spice mimics the action of insulin thus allowing removal of excess sugar out of the blood and into the cells.

Cinnamon may also help and prevent cancer, cholesterol, food poisoning, heart disease, hypertension, insulin resistance, polycystic ovarian syndrome, stroke, ulcer, vaginal yeast infections and wounds.

One of my favorite recipes that utilizes Cinnamon is . . .

Bunuelos

This is a great Mexican treat to make around the holidays or to celebrate a special occasion.

Dry Topping

2/3 cup sugar

2 tsp. cinnamon

Syrup

1 cup dark brown sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

2 cups water

Bread

2 cups all purpose flour

1 tablespoon sugar

2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1 tablespoon corn or canola oil

1 1/2 cups of Luke warm water or milk

Oil for frying.

Procedure . . .

Mix all the topping ingredients together and set aside.

for the syrup . . .Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a small heavy saucepan. Add water. Bring to simmer until it thicken and forms a syrup.

For the bread . . . sift together all the dry ingredients together. Add the oil and mix with your fingers to combine.Add the water or milk until a sticky ball forms.

Light dust the counter with flour and knead the dough for I min.the dough should be soft but not sticky. Let the dough rest for 15 min, covered with a damp cloth. divide the dough into 12 –14 balls. Cover the balls with the same cloth and rest for 15 – 30 m1n longer. Lightly dust the counter once again and roll out each ball until it is about 1/4 inch thick.Fry each of the bunuelos in oil that is warmed to 375 Degrees. sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar mix and drizzle syrup on to it. Serve them warm with a piping hot cup of chai!

Enjoy.

The next spice to be discussed . . . .Turmeric – the yellow gold spice!

Technorati Tags: Cinnamon,benefits of Cinnamon,Recipes using Cinnamon,Bunuelos,recipe for Bunuelos,great Mexican dessert,Bharat Aggarwal PHD,Benefits of using spices

Hubby Turning 40!

2011-12-14T11:06:00.001-06:00

My dear hubby is going to turn 40 on Friday. So, as a great wife that I naturally am, what do I do? I bake him a great huge cake shaped as an iPod. Now you ask me, is it a good thing to bombard this man who, mind you, is turning 40!!! with this much sugar? Well, I don’t think so. But since I love to bake, I had to.

My hubs and I have know each other for 22 years! and over the years I have seen many changes in him (physically as well as emotionally). Now that he is turning 40, I am scared.No, I am very, very scared. People say that women change at 40. But what about men? Are the changes so scary that no one really talks about them, or are they too minor to be mentioned? Well, that question led me to do some research about what happens to men at forty.

First and foremost, did you guys know that men go through something known as Male Menopause at 40??? well, they do and that explains a lot.

“Male Menopause (also called andropause or viropause) begins with hormonal, physiological chemical changes that occur in all men generally between the ages of forty and fifty-five, though it can occur as early as thirty-five or at late as sixty-five.”

The changes associated with male menopause are very similar to what women have reported. Such as, reduced energy, irritability (don’t we know it!), back pain, sleeplessness (that explains the tossing and turning every night!), headaches and confusion (haven’t they always been confused??)

Most of these changes are associated to hormonal changes that are occurring in the men at that age (yah, and so far, we thought we were hormonal!!)

Along with the decline in testosterone, some men experience symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, depression, and sexual problems (great! there goes that!).

So, if you are one of those lucky women whose hubby is turning 40 or has turned 40, please be a great wife and pass on the computer to them so that they too can read the following.

Men who are turning 40, beware, you will notice the following changes in your body (see, I used a larger font just for you!)

Decreased stamina
Taking longer to recover from illness and injuries
Packing on the pounds
Hee, hee. You too will need reading glasses
Anxiety and depression (that is why we are here for you)
Forgetfulness
More irritable and less libido (we would like the opposite, please!)

(back to wifie please . . . )

So, ladies you see. we have our jobs cut out for us. Not only are our kids getting to be teenagers (hello mood swings!), but our hubbys are turning 40. So, once again. Maintain the peace in the family and put your needs on the back burner!

Technorati Tags: Men at forty,husband turning 40,changes in men at age 40,ipod cake,hormonal changes in men,men menopause

Your Holiday Gift To Yourself–LOVE!

2011-12-08T12:31:00.001-06:00

This holiday let us all vouch to give ourselves the greatest gift of all – the gift of love!

Really, think about it, if you don’t love yourself – the way you are, the way you look, the things you do than who will?

what people think of you should not matter as much since that love will always be transient.When you were a baby, the love of your parents meant a lot. As a teenager, it was all about friends. As a wife you do what your hubby wants just to make him happy and then as a mom, you bend backwards to please your kids.See what I mean by transient? throughout your stages of life, there has only been one constant in our life and that is YOU!

Your love for yourself should be your number one priority.If you love yourself, then you will have a better outlook on the world. This in turn will make you a much more pleasant and loving person. So, if you are one of those individuals who has a hard time placing themselves first once in a while, think about this – your love for yourself will make you love others even more! get it!

Now here are a few great sayings that will help you do just that (courtesy of Lulu Lemon – aaahh, me like like!!!)

Breathe deeply and appreciate the moment – living in the moment could be the meaning of life.
Sweat once a day to regenerate your skin
Visualize your eventual demise.It can have an amazing effect on how you live for the moment.
Drink fresh water and as much water as you can. water flushes unwanted toxins from your body and keeps your brain sharp
Stress is related to 99% of all illnesses
Do one thing a day that scares you
The pursuit of happiness is the source od all unhappiness
Friends are more important than money
that which matters the most should never give way to that which matters the least
Successful people replace the words “wish”, “should” and “try” with “I WILL!!!!”
Creativity is maximized when you’re living in the moment
Mediocrity is as close to the bottom as it is to the top and will give you a lousy life
Listen,listen, listen and then ask strategic questions
Write down your short and log tem goals 4X a year. 2 personal, 2 business and 2 health foals for the next 1, 5 and 10 years . Goal setting triggers your subconscious computer.
The world is changing at such a rapid rate that waiting to implement the changes will leave you 2 steps behind. DO IT NOW! DO IT NOW! DO IT NOW!!!
Practice yoga so you can remain active in physical sports as you age
Your outlook on life is a direct reflection of how much you like yourself (see, I told you so!!)
The conscious brain can only hold one thought at a time.Choose a positive thought.
What we do to the earth we do to ourselves
Jealousy works the opposite way you want it to
A daily hit of athletic induced endorphins fives you the power to make better decisions, helps you to be at peace with yourself and offsets stress.

And last but not least . . . DANCE, SONG, FLOSS AND TRAVEL

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‘Tis The Season To Be Baking . . . .

2011-12-06T12:53:00.001-06:00

Hee hee, I have yet another reason to bake . . .The holidays! I love to bake tons of cookies for the holidays.

One of my favorite recipes of all times is the sugar cookie recipe from Americas Test Kitchen. These guys are truly awesome! They have two separate recipes for their sugar cookies – the chewy and the regular. I love the chewy cookie recipe a lot but during the holidays I mostly use the regular cookie recipe. The reason is that the chewy cookie recipe tends to crack on the top thus making it difficult to frost. The regular cookie recipe (which for some reason is not on their website but I will share it with you latter on) on the other hand makes smooth cookies which hold their shape beautifully. This cookie is truly wonderful to decorate.

In one of the shows, Ina Garten (master chef) had a friend of hers teaching her how to frost a perfect cookie. They used a slightly stiff royal icing to outline each cookie and then used a thinner version of the same frosting to “flood” the center of the cookie. The result was a smooth and shiny cookie.

So . . . since I love to experiment on recipes, I tried my own version of Americas Test Kitchen’s sugar cookie and Ina Garten’s Royal Icing.

For the cookie you will need . . .

2 1/2 cups of all purpose flour – unbleached of course

3/4 cup of super fine sugar (just place granulated sugar in the food processor and process for 30 secs. and then measure out the 3/4 cups)

1/4 tsp. salt

Mix the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.

Attach the paddle attachment to the mixer and place the bowl with the dry ingredients on it

2 sticks of unsalted butter at room temperature cut into 1 Tbs. increments

2 Tbs. sour cream (the original recipe called for cream cheese but I did not have any in the house and thus had to improvise)

2 tsp. vanilla extract

While the dry ingredients are mixing, slowly add the butter and the rest of the wet ingredients until the dough just starts to form a ball.

Place the mixture on a well floured surface and form a ball with the dough (try not to over handle the cookie as this will result in a tough cookie!)

Cut the ball of dough into two and form 2 disks.Wrap each disk tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate of 20- 30 min.

Roll the dough to 1/8 of an inch and cut out the desired shapes

Prior to baking, place the cut out cookies back in the fridge for 10 min to harden ups lightly.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10 min. or until light golden. (the baking time will vary depending on the size of your cookie)

Cool completely prior to frosting,

For the royal icing you will need

1Cup confectioner sugar – sifted to avoid lumps

2 tsp. Milk – start with one tsp. of milk first to give you the proper consistency to make the outline for your cookie. Then, add the other tsp. of milk to the remaining frosting to make it the consistency to flood”the cookie. P.S Flooding the cookie means to slowly pour the frosting on to the cookie – please do not dunk your cookie in the water and then blame me for a soggy cookie!!

2 tsp. light corn syrup

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Food coloring of your choice.

Once the cookies are cool, you are ready to frost.Place the thicker royal icing in a pastry bag with the #2 tip. Form a smooth outline around the cookie. Once the outline has set (5 min.) you are ready to “flood” your cookie. I also like to use an artists paint brush to get into any of the corners that the frosting does not spread to .

So, for this holiday season, get out your baking gear from the back of the closet and make beautifully decorated cookies for all your family and friends!!!

Technorati Tags: sugar cookies that hold their shape,great sugar cookies,sugar cookies for the holidays,holiday cookies,royal icing,icing for sugar cookies,americas test kitchen sugar cookies,ina garten royal icing

Are you SAD?

2011-12-01T12:59:00.001-06:00

OK, not that kind of sad, but SAD sad – short for Seasonal Affective Disorder.

As the winter season dawns upon us , experts estimate that 5-10% of the people will suffer from SAD. The rates of SAD is lower near the equator and highest where light is in short supply (great! we had to move to MN!!!).

The common symptoms of SAD include:

low energy
cravings for high carbohydrate foods
sadness and despair
social withdrawl
loss of libido
difficulty concentrating

Some of the ways that we can alleviate these symptoms are by :

Fueling well –Instead of eating high carb and sugary foods (good as this might sounds), try to eat a well balanced high protein diet. The spike in the sugary diet is just that. A spike. Eventually the high will become a low and that my friends, will make you feel even worse.
Lighten up – Make sure that you get some light everyday.Open up the shades.Sit by the window. Go for a walk. Darkness produces melatonin in your body which in turn makes you drowsy and sleepy.
Supplement – All I have to say is . . . read my awesome blog on Vitamin D http://www.coolmamablog.com/search?q=vitamin+D
Move it. Shake it – Get tons of physical activity (OK –I understand if the Insanity workout http://www.coolmamablog.com/search?q=Insanity is not your thing, but please try to get some sort of activity). Exercise boosts the serotonin production in your body and increases the flow of oxygen to your brain. Exercise will also help the diminish the body’s response to stress.
Stress less – Meditation helps with calming the brain down during the hectic holiday season. http://www.coolmamablog.com/search?q=meditation
Do not Oversleep – “The power of that early morning light is important” Says Rosenthal, M.D.It aids in the production of serotonin by suppressing the production of melatonin in the body.
Help yourself – if you feel that taking antidepressants or talking to a therapist will be beneficial to you, then make sure that you do this for yourself. Do not suffer alone by hibernating.

Winter sucks! it is a given. I dislike the slushy roads, shoveling and the bone chilling cold days. But that does not mean that you can move to a warm place (Mexico would be awesome!) just for that reason.

So, this winter, lets make a pact to leave our SADness aside and try to enjoy the white fluffy snow, kids playing in the snow, fire in the fire place . . . .(who am I kidding! I will continue to hibernate !)

Technorati Tags: Seasonal Affective Disorder,SAD in the winter,winter blues,importance of light in winter,fighting winter blues,helping seasonal affective disorder

Am I Insane To Do Insanity???

2011-11-30T14:20:00.001-06:00

My hubby is turning 40 in a few weeks and I truly feel that he is going through midlife crises. I base this opinion on the fact that he has me doing the craziest, most insane workout that I have ever done in my whole life with him. His reason, if I don’t do it with him, then he will not be motivated to do it by himself. Really, why do I have to suffer? But being the awesome wife that I am, I agreed to his ridiculous request (just wanted to prove to him that I am stronger than he is!)

So, last Saturday we started the insane workout – which by the way is really called, INSANITY (wonder why??).

The first day, began with the baseline fitness test or in my opinion Shawn T’s (the developer) http://www.insaneworkoutprogram.com/about/shaun-t/way of showing us that we really suck.

After that, the insanity really began. The workouts are between 40 – 45 min. long and crazy difficult. The program is 60 days long with only 1 day of break a week (so, now, instead of doing my lovely Zumba 3X/ week, I am being tortured 6X @ week). The first 4 weeks are supposed to be easier (really!!!!! I do NOT think so).For the last 4 weeks, the intensity is supposed to increase and the duration goes to 60 – 75 min! (if I am still blogging after that, I survived!)

The insanity workout http://60dayworkout.us/only uses the power and resistance of your body to improve your cardio status and lower your body fat percentage.

The reason why this workout is sought to be effective is because it is based on maximum interval training which replaces your moderate intensity exercise with maximum-intensity exercise, and your short intervals of intensity with short periods of rest. This addition of high intensity workout is at a level that is at 80 – 85% of your maximum heart rate.This in turn results in a faster increase in fitness and more efficient burning of carbs and fats.Each work out session is thought to burn close to 1000 calories.

This being said, some of the testimonials that I read http://www.amazon.com/INSANITY-60-Day-Conditioning-Workout-Program/dp/B002QZ1RS6reported that some women experienced a weight gain after starting this program.This terrified me because at this age, I really do not want to gain any weight (I am already at the highest weight I have ever been in my entire life!). So, I did more research and here is what I found.

When you start a new and unfamiliar workout routine, it is common to experience some muscle soreness. This is most prevalent 24 –48 hours after each workout. This soreness is caused by microscopic tears in the muscle tissue. This breakdown in turn causes inflammation and thus fluid retention in the body. It is not uncommon to retain 3-4 pound of fluid after an intense workout.

But, fear not. This gain in weight is only temporary and should resolve itself in 2 weeks or so. If however you continue to gain weight, then revisit the amount of calories that you are consuming. Working out is not a ticket to consuming as many calories as we wish.

So . . . getting back to the insanity in my life, I think I am going to stick it out. After all,, I have to prove once and for all that women are stronger and have a better will power than men (no offense dear hubby!)

Technorati Tags: insanity workout,insanity workout women 40,why insanity works,shaun T insanity workout,why gain weight after working out,weight gain post workout,mom and insanity workout

'Tis The Season To Be Jolly . . . Fala La La La La La . . .

2011-11-28T14:22:00.001-06:00

'Tis The Season To Be Jolly . . . Fala La La La La La . . .

Christmas is almost upon us. And I bet that all of you are all done with the shopping thing and have wrapped up the presents already (lol! right!).

Anyways, if you are at a loss of what to buy for someone special this holiday and you do not want to spend a lot of mulah, then consider looking for home made items such as accent scarves, blankets, art work and much more.

One of the coolest sites for home made items is http://www.etsy.com. Needless to say that I am biased to this site because I have a store on it (.http://www.etsy.com/people/CoolMamaArt?ref=si_pr). But seriously, this is a really cool site.When I first visited it, I was amazed at just how talented people really are. Besides, for the holidays, most people are willing to not charge shipping or give discount coupons.

As for my site, I have added tons of new accent scarves guaranteed to beautify any outfit (OK - No such guarantee - but, they are really pretty!). And, I am willing to let go of the $2.00 in shipping if you order any item off my store in time for the holidays!

Some of the items that I added on my store are

The Debate About The Great "D"

2011-11-28T10:59:00.001-06:00

As the winter months hit, most of us are going to go into hibernation. And even though hibernating is good and keeps us warm and toasty, it is the number one cause of vitamin D deficiency in both kids and adults.

Studies conducted at the university of Colorado Denver by Adit Ginde, MD, Phd have indicated that today, 3 out of 4 Americans are either deficient or borderline deficient in vitamin D.

Before the hype up fear of the sun's UV rays causing cancer hit the media, people tended to spend more time outdoors thus soaking up the sun rays and storing enough Vitamin D for the winter months.

Now with all of us slathering ourselves with sunblock and kids spending most of their time indoors playing video games, we face a deficiency of Vitamin D .

So, great. We are deficient in vitamin D. What's the big deal?Well, more and more research is proving that it is indeed a big deal. Vitamin D directly and indirectly influences most of what happens in our bodies every second of every day.

Vitamin D is a hormone precursor that our ancestors produced while working long hours in the sun. When exposed to UV rays, a chemical in the skin converts to vitamin D. This chemical then travels to the liver and is changed to a prehormone called Calcidol. The actual hormone, Calcitrol attaches to more than 2700 sites on the human genome and prompts more than 1000 genes to do their jobs.

This being said, the 3 top most benefits of vitamin D are ...

1. Protection of Cold and Flu - have you noticed that most of us get colds and flu in the winter months and not the summer months? one of the reasons that has been associated with that is the lack of exposure to sun in the winter months.Vitamin D has been proven to turn on the genes that are involved in boosting our immunity.

2.Stronger bones and muscles - Vitamin D is essential for normal bone formation because it is essential for calcium utilization in our bodies.Vitamin D is required for normal muscle production and strength and a deficiency in it would cause weakness, loss in range of motion and increased physical frailty.

3. Lower risk of Cancer - lower levels of vitamin D have been reported to be associated with a higher risk of breast, ovarian, pancreatic and aggressive prostate cancer.

So, the next time you decide to get out of your favorite hibernating spot, go visit your family doc and get a simple blood test done and get your Vitamin D level checked out..

Tomorrow, I will list the other "troubles" that have been shown to be associated with a deficiency of the great "D"!

The Baker’s Toolbox

2011-11-21T13:22:00.001-06:00

Continuing with my baking series . . .

we have talked about demystifying baking and the mishaps of baking. Today’s topic . . . the baker’s tool box.

Whether it is cleaning the house or building a shed, it is always important to have the right tools for the job. This holds true for baking as well. Having the right tools for the job will make the experience more enjoyable and less frustrating for you.

Here is a list of the common tools that you need in a baker’s kitchen

1. Hand Mixer – Now you will say, I already have a standing mixture, do I really need a hand held one? and the answer is . . . A definite YES. a hand held mixer will be important when you have to beat egg whites over a hot water bath or when you just do not have enough “stuff’ to mix.

when buying a hand held mixer, look for something that is powerful and light. A good place to check is Amazon for reviews before you invest in one.

2. stand Mixer – the one tool that is used more than the bathroom in our home! I love my kitchen aid mixer ! I love it so much that I have already broken one and am on my second one! when buying a mixer, make sure that it has the following features

wide mouthed bowl s to make it easier to add ingredients and scrape the sides
a sturdy all metal construction
a good contact between the beaters and the bottom of the bowl
fits well in your kitchen

3.Mixer accessories – I have 2 extra bowls for my kitchen aid and I love them. There is so much flexibility and convenience to have more than one bowl – just in case one is in the dish washer!

4. cake spatulas – you need both – straight and offset –both will be great to frost your final cakes

5. Dry and wet measuring cups – please do not use the liquid measuring cups for your dry ingredients .you will end up with the wrong measurements. vis – a – versa is OK.

6. Kitchen scale – unlike in cooking in which a bit of this and a bit of that would be OK, baking is an art of prescision.And, the best way to be precise in measuring your ingredients is , by investing in a good, digital kitchen scale.

7. Measuring spoons and cups –for accurate measurements of your ingredients

8. Scrapers – to scrape off the bowl

9 – instant read digital thermometer – especially when baking breads

10 – Digital timer – oven timers are great. But what if you need to get away from the kitchen? a simple little digital timer can go with you wherever you go.

So there. This concludes our series on Baking Tips – from tips to demystify baking to avoiding mishaps during baking to the baker’s tool box.I hope that these blogs helped you get inspired to try baking for the holidays!

Happy gobble gobble day!!!

Technorati Tags: bakers toolbox,things you need to bake,sucessful baking tools,baking tools

Common Baking Mishaps And Ways To Avoid Them

2011-11-17T14:12:00.001-06:00

So, since the last entry, I have done tons with my life.Besides having my etsy store (for my crochet critters), I have now started my own little cupcake baking gig. As for now, the cupcakes, called , but of course, cool mama cakes are being sold at a deli in Edina MN. I have also started catering cupcakes and am loving it!

This said, I hope that some of you have taken my tips from the last entry and have tried baking.Sometimes however, despite following all the tips and the recipe to the tee, we still end up with mishaps.

Therefore, for this entry, I have decided to list some of the common mishaps of baking and ways to avoid them.

1. Chewy not tender chiffon cake – The secret to a tender chiffon cake is beating the egg whites to the right stage.Overbeating the egg whites overworks the bubbles that we are trying to incorporate in them and will collapse in the oven.This in turn will result in a dense cake.

2. Sinking cake – sometimes when you take the cake out of the oven, it looks fabulous.But after cooling down, the center will sink. This happens for two reasons. The first one is undercooking the cake . This will cause the center of the cake to be “wet”, which will in turn collapse upon cooling. The second reason is over leavening the cake. For most cakes 1-1 1/4 tsp. of baking powder per cup of flour is ideal,( or 1/4 tsp. of baking soda/ cup of flour.). Over leavening the cake will cause the bubbles formed in the batter to burst thus sinking the cake in the center.

3. Tough cakes – A tough cake is the result of over mixing the batter upon the addition of the dry ingredients (flour). Over mixing the flour will lead to gluten formation and will cause the bubbles that you incorporated by creaming the butter to burst. Both of these will cause tough cakes.

4.Uneven layers in a layered cake – it is tough to judge if you have an equal amount of batter in the pans if you are planning to bake a layer cake.The best way to get perfectly equal layers is to use a scale and measure out the same amount of batter in each pan.

5. Less sheen and glossy ganache – the beauty of ganache is it’s sheen. The reason why ganache looses it’s sheen is due to refrigeration. So, to maintain the sheen of the ganache, do not refrigerate the cake after frosting it with ganache.

6. Domed cake – domed cakes are a result of excessive flour in the batter.This causes the formation of a thicker, heavier batter.So, make sure that you are using the correct measurements in your batter. The best way to do so, is to use a scale.

I hope that this answers some of the questions that you have about baking. Please do not be discouraged if your cake does not turn out the first time around. Give it a second chance and you too will be addicted to . . . BAKING!

If you have any questions about baking, please leave a comment and I will definitely try to answer it !

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